CPAP on the Cheap and Creative Modifications

I would like to see everyone's creative and/or cheap alternatives or modifications to cpap equipment. I have seen several things here on different threads but think it would be great idea to get this stuff in one thread. Please post pics if possible and instructions when necessary.

Here is mine to start. It is a men's old navy fleece scarf $2, attached to my hose with simple ribbon, no sewing involved. It's 74" in length and wraps around the hose 1.5 times.


To Dreamon: please post the pic of your knitted one!

Good thread idea, YawnGirl. I'd like to see other people's creative ideas!

YawnGirl wrote:To Dreamon: please post the pic of your knitted one!

My knitted hose cover, displayed by Mr. Sock Monkey:



I made it using the small (blue) Knifty Knitter tool. (I hadn't done any knitting in 25+ years -- just decided to do it, making it up as I went!) Yarn is cheap, and many people have some left over around the house from other projects. The tool was $6 at Jo-Ann Fabrics, and one skein of yarn was about $6.50. They had a buy one, get second half off special that day, and you can find percent-off coupons for Jo-Ann's easily. It took just over one skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick (6 oz. weight) yarn, and was a day in the making. A slightly lighter weight yarn may be easier to work with, as this one is pretty bulky. If I had it to do over again, I'd make the cover a bit wider, to make it easier to slip on and off the tubing. It's a little snug-fitting. But it works great (no rainout!) and is very cozy to sleep with! Goes with my decor too.

~ DreamOn

Hi All

This is probably the worlds smallest creative modification, but it does give me a genuine excuse to bump this thread up, and give others a second chance to contribute.

So here goes -

To keep the hose above my head I use a very large bulldog clip, which I clip on a door edge which is above and to the right of my head. The hose fits easily through the hole created, and hangs down at the side of my head. I have freedom of movement with no problems.

cheers

Mars

[quote="YawnGirl"]I would like to see everyone's creative and/or cheap alternatives or modifications to cpap equipment.
YawnGirl - here is my little modification to my Swift TM LT Nasal Pillows Mask. I replaced the Tube retainer with
double sided Velcro. (white tape in photo)

I want to make this preemptive strike: To that guy who uses metal fish hooks to hold his Hybrid mask nasal pillows in place, don't place photos of that crap here again.

rooster wrote:I want to make this preemptive strike: To that guy who uses metal fish hooks to hold his Hybrid mask nasal pillows in place, don't place photos of that crap here again.

I enjoy seeing other people's ideas, so keep 'em coming! OK, I have another cheap trick....

My RT, who has used BiPAP for 17 years himself, suggested that I tuck my hose under one corner of my pillow. Problem is, it wasn't always staying there. I have seen commercially available hose clips like this one: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpap-hose-clip.html. I didn't want to pay that much money, especially if I wasn't ordering enough to qualify for free shipping. So I was in Jo-Ann Fabrics one day and started wandering around to see what I could come up with to make the CPAP experience more pleasant. I happened upon this "Fashion Fit Clip", which is used to improve the fit of dresses or shirts in the back:





Perfect! The clips open easily. There are plastic teeth on each clip, so it won't damage bed linens. I have my CPAP machine at bed level, with the hose coming out downward, to trap any rainout. The tubing then comes up to my pillow and through the clip, which holds it place. If I want to flip over during the night, I just flip my pillow at the same time. Works great to prevent the tubing from pulling on the mask, and it keeps the hose where I want it. You can either position the clip so it holds the tubing very firmly, or let it slid rather freely as I do. It could also be clipped to the sheets or elsewhere.

The clip only cost a few dollars. I used a percent-off coupon. It's in the aisle with other notions, such as velcro. They may offer it online too, I'm not sure. Their website is down right now (Black Friday), so I couldn't check.

~ DreamOn

DreamOn wrote:Good thread idea, YawnGirl. I'd like to see other people's creative ideas!

YawnGirl wrote:To Dreamon: please post the pic of your knitted one!

My knitted hose cover, displayed by Mr. Sock Monkey:



I made it using the small (blue) Knifty Knitter tool. (I hadn't done any knitting in 25+ years -- just decided to do it, making it up as I went!) Yarn is cheap, and many people have some left over around the house from other projects. The tool was $6 at Jo-Ann Fabrics, and one skein of yarn was about $6.50. They had a buy one, get second half off special that day, and you can find percent-off coupons for Jo-Ann's easily. It took just over one skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick (6 oz. weight) yarn, and was a day in the making. A slightly lighter weight yarn may be easier to work with, as this one is pretty bulky. If I had it to do over again, I'd make the cover a bit wider, to make it easier to slip on and off the tubing. It's a little snug-fitting. But it works great (no rainout!) and is very cozy to sleep with! Goes with my decor too.

~ DreamOn

I am totally getting my yarn out of storage this weekend and making one! I am allergic to wool but I have some thicker synthetic yarns that I can use to crochet one up with. Bonus points to you for making one that matches your decor

Since I knit all the time, including lots and lots of socks, it was no big deal to knit this hose cozy even on tiny needles. Like the cover the sock monkey was displaying, it might be easier to get on and off if made more loosely, but I like it this way. I just use a small plastic bag over one end when pulling it on. The mask connection has it's own shorter, narrower tube.


My only other burst of creativity was to use a $7.95 eye mask as a chin strap. It just happens to work better for me than the real chin strap provided by the DME. If I think hard I'm sure I'll find a purpose for the other.

Scarlet834 wrote:Since I knit all the time, including lots and lots of socks, it was no big deal to knit this hose cozy even on tiny needles. Like the cover the sock monkey was displaying, it might be easier to get on and off if made more loosely, but I like it this way. I just use a small plastic bag over one end when pulling it on. The mask connection has it's own shorter, narrower tube.

That is beautiful, Scarlet! Love it!!! I'm going to try your plastic bag idea, as my knitted hose cover is very snug! I've been planning to make another for the shorter, narrower tube on my AEIOMed Headrest mask too.

~ DreamOn

Jaylee wrote:I am totally getting my yarn out of storage this weekend and making one! I am allergic to wool but I have some thicker synthetic yarns that I can use to crochet one up with. Bonus points to you for making one that matches your decor

I had a severe wool allergy when I was younger. I don't seem to have that problem now though. The Wool-Ease yarn I used is 82% acrylic, 8% rayon, and 10% wool. It doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I often find myself hugging the hose now! I'm so pathetic.

~ DreamOn

Please! I need one of you knitters to open an Etsy shop so I can buy a custom-made hose cover from you.

KISS -- I don`t think so! A girl needs to accessorize!!

MoneyGal wrote:Please! I need one of you knitters to open an Etsy shop so I can buy a custom-made hose cover from you.

KISS -- I don`t think so! A girl needs to accessorize!!

I think Scarlet should consider that, especially since she makes other knitted items too!

~ DreamOn

my somnoplus headgear ------- you did want cheap didn't you? -oh spouse destroyed the panties basically with not watching where he was dumping bleach in the load -- I had made other headgears for other masks with this same idea

I have used a wreath door hanger hook to suspend my hose on our tall headboard. The hook fits over the headboard, and I use a string to tie the hose at the height I like. Tis the season.

MoneyGal wrote:Please! I need one of you knitters to open an Etsy shop so I can buy a custom-made hose cover from you.

KISS -- I don`t think so! A girl needs to accessorize!!

My sentiments exactly! I'm trying to figure out how to accessorize or put some bling on my cpap carry case!